LaLiga: Barcelona set to fight to stay afloat against Getafe
Barcelona will be looking to secure second position in the La Liga table when they make the trip to Coliseum Alfonso Perez on Sunday evening to take on Getafe.
The Catalan giants are currently second, five points ahead of third-placed Atletico Madrid, while Getafe sit 15th, five points ahead of the relegation zone with two games left to play.
Match preview
Getafe’s Enes Unal celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates on February 12, 2022
© Reuters
Getafe’s position in La Liga is not yet secure, mathematically at least, but it would be a huge surprise if they were relegated from this position, sitting five points clear of 18th-placed Mallorca with two games left.
There is no getting away from the fact that it has been a tough campaign for the Deep Blue Ones, who finished eighth, fifth and eighth in Spain’s top flight between 2017 and 2020 before dropping to 15th last term.
Quique Sanchez Flores’s side are 15th heading into the penultimate set of matches in Spain’s top flight, but they are just six points off the top half of the table, so a lot of movement could happen in their next two games.
Getafe will actually bring a four-game unbeaten run into Sunday’s clash with Barcelona, having beaten Celta Vigo, in addition to drawing with Real Betis, Rayo Vallecano and Osasuna, since a 2-1 home reverse to Villarreal in the middle of April.
The capital outfit also beat Barcelona 1-0 when the two teams locked horns in the corresponding match last season, but the Catalan giants ran out 2-1 winners in the reverse fixture at Camp Nou earlier this term.
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Barcelona have already secured a position in next season’s Champions League and are in a strong spot when it comes to claiming second, sitting five points clear of third-placed Atletico with just two games left.
Xavi’s side suffered back-to-back home defeats to Cadiz and Rayo Vallecano last month but have now been victorious in their last three league matches, beating Mallorca and Real Betis before recording a 3-1 win over Celta Vigo on Tuesday night to move onto 72 points.
Barcelona will finish their campaign at home to Villarreal on May 22, and two victories would certainly leave the fans feeling hopeful ahead of next season, with the club planning a busy summer transfer window despite their ongoing financial problems.
Blaugrana have had to watch Real Madrid win La Liga in impressive fashion and also reach the Champions League final, but there have been plenty of positives during Xavi’s time at the helm, and they will be looking for their 10th away victory of the season on Sunday evening.
Barcelona actually have the second-best record on their travels in La Liga this term, picking up 34 points from 18 matches, but Getafe have been solid in front of their own supporters, claiming 27 points from 18 games.